The Magic's preseason ended with a 136-115 win over Miami, and that game is also where the worry started. Franz Wagner opened the third quarter, left with right shoulder soreness and didn't return. Sean Sweeney would only say Wagner will be re-evaluated. Wagner did stay on the bench with his teammates afterward, which is a decent sign for Wednesday. Day-to-day is still a long way from cleared.
The Wagner news isn't Orlando's only problem. Noah Penda has a partially torn right hamstring. Izaiyah Nelson is still about a month away after offseason ankle surgery, according to Jeff Weltman. Anthony Black (ankle), Jonathan Isaac (knee) and Jase Richardson (back) are all listed day-to-day. Orlando's identity is length and versatility on the wing, so this list hits the part of the rotation that defines them. If Wagner sits, the Magic open the season with their depth already used up.
Atlanta has its own frontcourt issue. Rookie center Henri Veesaar tore his right ACL and is expected to miss the 2026-27 season. Mouhamed Gueye is coming back from surgery on a fractured left foot. That means a lot of the work behind the starting bigs falls to Landale. The Hawks' wing additions can help cover it, but on the glass against a long Orlando team, Atlanta is thinner than it would like. This one is mostly decided by Wagner's shoulder, and by Wednesday we'll know which Magic team the Hawks are getting.